4 Things you should know about mold stain and mildew stain

Mold and mildew stain at home is really an annoying problem for many people, they may lead to structural damage to the house or cause health problems. As a result, you need to pay attention to any sign of mold stain, once you see them, you should remove them as fast as you can. 

1. What are mold stain and mildew stain?

Mold and mildew stains are both types of fungi that you can find in the home commonly. They live in dark and damp environments, spread easily and quickly, and live on various surfaces which makes them very difficult to remove. After that, the harmful microorganisms can quickly affect large areas of your property and may even result in health problems and structural damage.

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2. What do they look like?

Typically, mold stain comes in all sizes, shapes, and a range of colors including blue, green, yellow, brown, gray, black, or white. Some mold stains are flat looking while others appear to have hairs or a bumpy appearance to them. 

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Mildew stain usually grows in a flat pattern and may appear either powdery or downy. Powdery mildew stain usually starts out white and may later turn yellow, brown, or black. Downy mildew usually starts out yellow and later turns brown. 

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3. What are the differences between mold and mildew stain? 

Mildew stain usually affects plants and crops. Although it won’t cause structural damage to your house as mold does, when inhaled, it can cause coughing, headache, and other respiratory problems. 

 

Mold stain can cause serious structural damage to your house if it is left unattended for a long period of time. It can also lead to more serious health risks than mildew stain, such as allergic reactions, heart problems, inflammation, etc. 

photo from iStock

 

4. What does mold stain smell like?

In general, the smell of mold stain is unpleasant and usually described as pungent and musty. Some individuals compare it to the smell of sweaty socks, or rotten wood or paper. Their scent is also described as earthy or meaty, likened to the smell following rain. A single species can produce wildly different smells depending on where it is in its cycle of digestion, growth, and reproduction. Most mold stain smells are caused by microbial volatile organic compounds, which are chemicals produced by mold stain various biological processes, and often have strong or unpleasant odors. 

photo from iStock

If you can’t pinpoint the unique smell in your home, you might want to start looking for mold stain. You are advised to remove them as soon as possible if you don’t want your house to be damaged.